Sports - Mansfield, Connecticut, United States
The University of Connecticut Ski Team has a rich and storied history which began in 1971 with both a men's and women's team. The team is currently coached by ski team alum Jeff Lagasse. The University of Connecticut Ski Team is a club team and is funded by the UCONN Club Sports Council and the Undergraduate Student Government. The team is also supported by an extended Alumni base, family, and friends.UCONN calls Okemo its home training base for a month during Christmas break. Division competition begins in early January and extends into February. Mt. Southington is the teams' training facility when school is in session.The skiing Huskies compete in the McConnell Division in the United States Collegiate Ski Association (USCSA). USCSA is the sports federation for collegiate team ski racing in America. Almost 200 colleges and universities and approximately 5000 athletes compete in the USCSA competition. USCSA follows NCAA Division II rules and guidelines. The team starts 10 men and women in each collegiate race.There are 12 races during the Division season. The top five men's and women's teams qualify to compete at the USCSA Eastern Regional Championships. The top four men's and women's team from the Regional Championships then compete at the USCSA National Championships. The McConnell Division has traditionally been the most dominate USCSA Division in the Nation.The McConnell Division consists of ten universities and colleges from the Northeast and is in the Eastern Conference of USCSA. University of Connecticut, Babson College Brown University, M.I.T., University of Massachusetts, Castleton, Clarkson, St. Anselm, and New England College the are all members of the McConnell Division. The Division is named after Bill McConnell who was the long time coach of the University of Massachusetts.